Labor Flashcards
the physiologic process by which a fetus is expelled form the uterus
Labor
what brings about demonstrable effacement and dilatation of the cervix during labor
Uterine contractions
how open the internal os is
dilation
what measurement is considered complete dilation?
10 cm
length of the cervix (how thick it is)
Difference between the internal and external cervical os
Effacement
- degree of descent of the presenting part of the fetus
- Measured in cm from the ischial spines
- Can measure it in thirds
station
consistency types of cervix to dx labor?
Soft, medium or firm
More firm means they are not in labor
positions of cervix for dx of labor
Anterior, mid position or posterior
In order to diagnosis labor, there MUST BE ?
cervical change
Contractions without cervical change could represent false labor are called?
Braxton Hicks contractions
what scoring determines how favorable the cervix is for labor
Bishop score
Score >8 = favorable cervix for labor
Howto check the status of membranes (4) to dx labor?
- Ferning
- Nitrazine
- Presence of pooling
- AFI
the rupture of membranes during labor
Spontaneous rupture of membranes
the rupture of membranes before the onset of labor
Premature rupture of membranes
Major pathogen in neonatal sepsis
group B strep
how to screen group B strep
> 35 weeks all pregnant women have ano-vaginal swab
tx for positive group B strep
Treatment in labor - PCN
- If allergic - obtain sensitivities usually use Erythromycin or Clindamycin
- If allergic to penicillin and don’t have sensitivities = Vancomycin
- Try to avoid if possible
- Can cause nonreassuring fetal status and fetal respiratory depression
IV pain meds
MC pain management in labor
Regional Anesthesia - Epidural Anesthesia
- Epidural catheter placed in L3-L4 interspace
- Initial bolus of anesthetic given then a continuous infusion started
- Offered to patients having a vaginal delivery
Complications with epidural anesthesia
- Maternal hypotension
- Maternal respiratory depression
- Spinal headache
CI for epidural anesthesia
- Maternal bleeding disorder or use of LMWH within 12h
- Patient refusal
- One time dose placed directly into spinal canal
- Used for cesarean delivery
- Complications and contraindications similar to epidural
Spinal Anesthesia
- Provides perineal anesthesia
- Used with operative vaginal deliveries or for extensive perineal repairs after delivery
Pudendal Block
Used for cesarean delivery in emergent or urgent settings
General Anesthesia
complications of General Anesthesia
during labor
- Maternal aspiration
- Risk of hypoxia to mother and fetus
indications for induction of labor
maternal, fetal or placental reasons
labor induction success is related to Bishop score how?
- Bishop Score < 5 may lead to failed induction 50% of time
- Bishop Score < 5 indicates need for cervical ripening
Prostaglandins MOA for labor induction
Help ripen and dilate the cervix
Cause dissolution of collagen bundles and increase water uptake by cells
2 Prostaglandins used for labor induction
- Cervidil –PGE2, vaginal
- Cytotec – PGE1, vaginal or oral
SE of prostaglandins
- Tachysystole, fever, vomiting, diarrhea
- Uterine rupture
CI of prostaglandins
- History of cesarean section
- myomectomy (peeling tissue from the uterus)
- hysterotomy
Identical version of oxytocin released from posterior pituitary leading to uterine contractions
Pitocin
SE of Pitocin
- Uterine rupture (but not as likely as the prostaglandins)
- Hyponatremia
- Hypotension
- Amniotic fluid embolism
CI of pitocin
- Fetal distress
- hypersensitivity
2 manual/”tool” methods of labor induction
- Balloon catheter (Cook)
- Laminaria - Rolled up seaweed that pulls out water and in turn dilates the cervix
Amnio hook used to puncture amniotic sac can help with what?
labor induction
Intervening to increase the already present contractions?
what medication is used?
Augmentation of Labor
pitocin
types of operative vaginal delivery
- Forceps
- Vacuum – used more often now
indications for operative vaginal delivery
- Prolonged second stage of labor
- Maternal exhaustion
- Hasten delivery for fetal compromise
Abdominal delivery of a fetus
c-section
stages of labor
- From onset of labor to complete cervical dilation
- From complete cervical dilation to expulsion of fetus
- From delivery of infant to delivery of placenta
- From delivery of placenta to one hour postpartum
what is the labor curve (old way)?
Freidman’s curve (1950s)
- Good guideline for expected progression in labor
- Helps determine abnormal labor patterns
what does the new labor curve include?
- Spontaneous labor
- Induced labor
difference between spontaneous and induced labor on labor curve
- Spontaneous labor
- Labor progresses similarly for multips and primips until 6cm
- Defined active phase at 6cm - After 6cm, multips progressed much quicker - Induced labor
- Latent phase of labor is significantly longer in induced labor compared with spontaneous labor - Active phase of labor is similar between the two groups
two phases of the 1st stage of labor
- Latent phase - From onset of labor with slow cervical dilation to ~6 cm; slower phase
- Active phase - From ~6cm to complete dilation (10cm); Faster rate of cervical change
- Nulliparous patient: 1.2cm/h
- Multiparous patient: 1.5cm/h
Factors affecting active stage of labor:
3 P’s
Power – uterus
Passenger – fetus
Pelvis – baby has to fit out of